Expert: Diana Hamilton - 6/22/2009

Question
I have two 4 foot indoor palm trees that I recently transplanted. They are in large pots with holes and I used a palm soil when transplanting. After about 4 months all the leaves are turning brown on both trees. I water really well about twice a month. Is that too much? Not enough? I typically wait until it's pretty dry.

Answer
Dear Chris,

How sad that your plants are appear to be dying but are there any new fronds coming through and, if so, are they dying too?

The answer to your problems is I think either over or underwatering.
If the plants are overwatered and sit in water in their trays the roots could have rotted.  If they are underwatered they will dry up.

You say you recently transplanted them - I assume you mean 4 months ago?
So it is nothing to do with the shock of being transplanted as that would have occurred much sooner.

Did you place them back in the same situation as previously?  Have they been subjected to draughts?

Is it possible, perhaps with some help, to remove one of the plants to examine the root ball to see if the roots have rotted?  If they have, then contact me again and I will give you further advice.  If the roots are very dry then obviously the plants need more water.  When working out how often to water you should determine how dry or damp the soil is beneath the surface.  Push in a wooden stick, a chopstick is ideal for this, and see if it emerges dry or damp.  Even tho the surface soil will have dried out it doesn't follow that the soil underneath has done so.

To tidy up the plants I would cut off all the brown leaves and trim those that perhaps have just brown tips.

Have you checked for insects?  Look on the reverse side of the leaves where insects like to cluster.

Palms like to have their fronds sprayed occasionally to keep the air humid and to be cleaned with a clean damp cloth to remove dust and keep insects at bay.

Do get in touch again if you think I can help you further.

Diana